International dancer opens school in Melbourne’s inner North

A new dance school is opening next month, catering to families in the Melbourne cities of Darebin and Yarra. Rain & Lucky School of Dance is directed by Rain Francis, a professional dancer and teacher with international experience.

A graduate of prestigious training institutions like the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School and the New Zealand School of Dance, ‘Miss Rain’ has spent the last 15 years working as a dancer, teacher and choreographer in Ireland, the UK, the USA, NZ and Australia. She worked for many years with the National Ballet of Ireland, as an international guest tutor, and most recently has been touring with our own Opera Australia.

She now brings her passion, expertise and love for dance to the Northern suburbs of Melbourne. Classes for children and adults will be offered at three locations across Fairfield, Northcote and Thornbury, starting in the first week of February.

“I am passionate about my art-form and aim to inspire and encourage my students in every lesson,” says Miss Rain. “My goal is to help develop happy, healthy dancers with excellent grounding in dance technique, the confidence to develop personal artistry and a sense of grace and respect for themselves and the people around them.”

“Her refreshing quality of teaching as well as choreographic skills is an inspiration to students who benefit greatly from her well-structured classes,” says Frederic Jahn, former Ballet Master of the Paris Opera, now working with Teatro Dell’Opera in Rome. “I would recommend Rain Francis to any organisation requiring an iron fist in a velvet glove. The results are clearly in the students’ understanding of her style and in the joy they demonstrate when they are dancing.”

Miss Rain says that dance classes are about more than learning steps. “There are so many benefits of learning to dance. Grace, poise, correct posture, body awareness, social skills, rhythm, coordination… Dance can build friendships, increase confidence, improve memory – and it comes with plenty of transferrable skills that are useful in all areas of life.”

Students at Rain & Lucky School of Dance will also learn a bit of history, French, anatomy and music theory, elements which are important in building well-rounded dancers. Whilst other classes will be offered, the main style taught at the School is ballet, based on the Royal Academy of Dancing syllabus from the UK, and informed by many years of exposure to professional dance companies and choreographers both in Australia and abroad. Adult classes will also be available, with ballet for beginners and professionals, as well as yoga.

Classes begin February 1, 2016 and registrations are now open. To enquire, email raindancefrancis@gmail.com or visit www.rainandlucky.com.

Photo (top): Rain Francis. Photo by Greg Stoodley. Photo (left): Francis’ niece. Photo by Verve Portraits.